Method and systems for electromagnetic protection with persistent self monitoring and cybersecure local and remote status report

Abstract

A system and method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating detecting and isolating a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (“HEMP”) along electrical lines electrically connected to a monitored infrastructure so as to protect the monitored infrastructure, the method including a phase unit receiving sensor signals from a plurality of analog sensor circuits electrically connected to each of the electrical lines, respectively, upstream of and associated with the monitored infrastructure. The method includes determining, limiting, shunting, and limiting the impinged transient surges and instantaneously indicates locally the status of the monitored parameters using visual and audio sound via a cybersecure optical communication channel supporting a plurality of wavelengths, from which one wavelength is utilized for a one-directional communication and a different wavelength optical signal establishing a controlled temporary two-directional communication for surge protection system maintenance and update.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and protecting a monitored infrastructure from a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP), mitigating the effects of the HEMP, and communicating in real time the status of the monitored infrastructure locally and remotely so as to protect the monitored infrastructure, said method for monitoring, detecting, and protecting, comprising:
 a phase unit receiving sensor signals from a plurality of sensors electrically connected individually to each of a first phase, second phase, and third phase electrical line, respectively, upstream of and associated with the monitored infrastructure, said plurality of sensors generating amplitude and status data in real time and communicating said amplitude and status data via a cybersecure optical communication channel; and 
 determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of an E1 component of the HEMP and, if so, actuating a mitigation response in less than 300 nanoseconds to electrically shunt, redirect, limit, and absorb an excess of surge energy on said respective electrical line to prevent propagation of hazardous electrical signals to the monitored infrastructure and, if not, continuing to monitor said sensor signals; 
 wherein said determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of electromagnetic fields associated with the E1 component of the HEMP while originating from intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) sources and, if so, actuating a mitigation response to prevent propagation of hazardous electrical transient energy to the monitored infrastructure and, if not, continuing to monitor said sensor signals. 
 
     
     
       2. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line is indicative of an E2 and E3 component of the HEMP and, if so, actuating a mitigation response to electrically shunt, redirect, limit, and absorb an excess of surge energy on said respective electrical line to prevent propagation of hazardous electrical signals to the monitored infrastructure and, if not, continuing to monitor said sensor signals; and 
 determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of electromagnetic fields associated with the E3 component of a HEMP while originating from Geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) and, if so, actuating a mitigation to prevent propagation of hazardous electrical transient energy to the monitored infrastructure and, if not, continuing to monitor said sensor signals. 
 
     
     
       3. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 2 , wherein said determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of the E1, E2, and E3 components of the HEMP while originating from the IEMI or the GMD, respectively, includes instantaneous evaluation of surge amplitudes versus time values. 
     
     
       4. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 2 , wherein said determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of the E1, E2, and E3 components of the HEMP while originating from the IEMI or the GMD, respectively, includes instantaneously responding to limit an impact of transient surge energy on the monitored infrastructure so as to form a surge protection system for said electrical lines and said sensors. 
     
     
       5. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 1 , further comprising using analog circuits for instantaneously capturing and evaluating parameters of said sensor signals associated with impinging surge transient voltages on said electrical lines of the monitored infrastructure such that rated breakdown voltages of analog circuit components exceed a predetermined protection limit level. 
     
     
       6. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 4 , wherein said instantaneously capturing and evaluating parameters of said sensor signals associated with impinging surge transient voltages on said electrical lines of the monitored infrastructure includes using analog circuits for scaling said sensor signals to low logical levels and using an on-board microcontroller configured for processing said scaled sensor signals with embedded digital signal processing algorithms. 
     
     
       7. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 6 , wherein said instantaneously capturing and evaluating parameters of said sensor signals associated with impinging surge transient voltages on said electrical lines of the monitored infrastructure includes transmitting said captured and evaluated parameters for display as a local status information to a remote display location associated with the monitored infrastructure using said cybersecure optical communication channel supporting multiple optical wavelengths and directional mode control. 
     
     
       8. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 7 , wherein said cybersecure optical communication channel is configured to use either a one-way mode of communication and a two-way mode of communication when actuated by said remote display location associated with the monitored infrastructure. 
     
     
       9. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 configuring said onboard microcontroller to format status messages, including metadata for device identification and time stamping, and to transmit said status messages to said remote display location using said one-way mode of communication; 
 configuring said onboard microcontroller to switch said optical communications channel between said one-way mode of communication and said two-way mode of communication upon receiving a predetermined optical wavelength signal; and 
 configuring said onboard microcontroller to interface said electrical lines to said remote display location. 
 
     
     
       10. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 8 , further comprising indicating a channel malfunction or unauthorized intrusion using said optical communication channel and said local status information. 
     
     
       11. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 2 , further comprising using a plurality of analog sensing circuits for monitoring, capturing, and reporting predetermined operational values associated with said electrical lines of said monitored infrastructure, respectively, wherein visual and audible indicators are used to indicate normal and fault status conditions regarding each respective electrical line. 
     
     
       12. A method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and protecting a monitored infrastructure from a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP), mitigating the effects of the HEMP, and communicating in real time the status of the monitored infrastructure locally and remotely via a cybersecure optical communication channel so as to protect the monitored infrastructure, said method for monitoring, detecting, protecting, and mitigating, comprising:
 a phase unit receiving sensor signals from a plurality of sensors electrically connected individually to each of a first phase, second phase, and third phase electrical line, respectively, upstream of and associated with the monitored infrastructure, said plurality of sensors generating amplitude and status data in real time and communicating said data via a cybersecure optical communication channel; and 
 determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of electromagnetic fields associated with an E1 component of the HEMP while also originating from intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) sources and, if so, actuating a mitigation response to prevent propagation of hazardous electrical transient energy to the monitored infrastructure and, if not, continuing to monitor said sensor signals. 
 
     
     
       13. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 12 , further comprising determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of an E1 component of the HEMP and, if so, actuating a mitigation response in less than 300 nanoseconds to electrically shunt, redirect, limit, and absorb an excess of surge energy on said respective electrical line to prevent propagation of hazardous electrical signals to the monitored infrastructure and, if not, continuing to monitor said sensor signals. 
     
     
       14. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of electromagnetic fields associated with the E3 component of a HEMP while originating from Geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) and, if so, actuating a mitigation response to prevent propagation of hazardous electrical transient energy to the monitored infrastructure and, if not, continuing to monitor said sensor signals. 
 
     
     
       15. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line is indicative of an E2 and E3 component of the HEMP and, if so, actuating a mitigation response to electrically shunt, redirect, limit, and absorb an excess of surge energy on said respective electrical line to prevent propagation of hazardous electrical signals to the monitored infrastructure and, if not, continuing to monitor said sensor signals. 
 
     
     
       16. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 15 , wherein said determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of the E1, E2, and E3 components of the HEMP while originating from the IEMI or the GMD, respectively, includes instantaneously evaluating surge amplitudes versus time values associated with said IEMI and said GMD. 
     
     
       17. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 15 , wherein said determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of the E1, E2, and E3 components of the HEMP while originating from the IEMI or the GMD, respectively, includes instantaneously responding to limit an impact of transient surge energy on the monitored infrastructure so as to form a surge protection system for said electrical lines and said sensors. 
     
     
       18. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 12 , further comprising instantaneously capturing and evaluating parameters of said sensor signals associated with impinging surge transient voltages on said electrical lines associated with the monitored infrastructure using analog circuits such that rated breakdown voltages of analog circuit components exceed a predetermined protection limit level. 
     
     
       19. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 18  further comprising:
 instantaneously monitoring, capturing, and reporting predetermined operational values associated with said electrical lines of said monitored infrastructure, respectively, using another plurality of analog sensing circuits; and 
 using visual and audible indicators indicate normal and fault status conditions regarding each respective electrical line. 
 
     
     
       20. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 18 , wherein said instantaneously capturing and evaluating parameters of said sensor signals associated with impinging surge transient voltages on said electrical lines of the monitored infrastructure includes transmitting said captured and evaluated parameters to a remote display location associated with the monitored infrastructure for display as a local status information using said cybersecure optical communication channel supporting multiple optical wavelengths signals and directional mode control. 
     
     
       21. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 20 , wherein said cybersecure optical communication channel is configured to use either a one-way mode of communication using one of the said supported multiple optical wavelength signals and a two-way mode of communication when actuated using a different one of the said multiple optical wavelength signals by said remote display location associated with the monitored infrastructure. 
     
     
       22. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 21 , wherein said instantaneously capturing and evaluating parameters of said sensor signals associated with impinging surge transient voltages on said electrical lines of the monitored infrastructure includes using analog circuits for scaling said sensor signals to low logical levels and using an on-board microcontroller configured for processing said scaled sensor signals with embedded digital signal processing algorithms. 
     
     
       23. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 configuring said onboard microcontroller to format status messages, including metadata for device identification and time stamping, and to transmit said status messages to said remote display location using said one-way mode of communication; 
 configuring said onboard microcontroller to switch said optical communications channel between said one-way mode of communication and said two-way mode of communication upon receiving a predetermined optical wavelength signal; and 
 configuring said onboard microcontroller to interface said electrical lines to said remote display location. 
 
     
     
       24. A method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and protecting a monitored infrastructure from a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP), mitigating the effects of the HEMP, and communicating in real time the status of the monitored infrastructure locally and remotely via a cybersecure channel so as to protect the monitored infrastructure, said method for monitoring, detecting, protecting, and communicating, comprising:
 a phase unit receiving sensor signals from a plurality of sensors electrically connected individually to each of a first phase, second phase, and third phase electrical line, respectively, upstream of and associated with the monitored infrastructure, said plurality of sensors generating amplitude and status data in real time and communicating said data via a cybersecure optical communication channel; and 
 determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of an E1 component of the HEMP and, if so, actuating a mitigation response in less than 300 nanoseconds to electrically shunt, redirect, limit, and absorb an excess of surge energy on said respective electrical line to prevent propagation of hazardous electrical signals to the monitored infrastructure and, if not, continuing to monitor said sensor signals; and 
 determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line is indicative of an E2 and E3 component of the HEMP and, if so, actuating a mitigation response to electrically shunt, redirect, limit, and absorb an excess of surge energy on said respective electrical line to prevent propagation of hazardous electrical signals to the monitored infrastructure and, if not, continuing to monitor said sensor signals; 
 determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are (1) indicative of electromagnetic fields associated with the E1 component of a HEMP while originating from intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) sources or are (2) indicative of electromagnetic fields associated with the E3 component of a HEMP while originating from Geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) and, if so, actuating a mitigation response to prevent propagation of hazardous electrical transient energy to the monitored infrastructure and, if not, continuing to monitor said sensor signals. 
 
     
     
       25. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 24 , wherein said determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line is indicative of the E1, E2, and E3 component of the HEMP, surge transients induced by IEMI or surge transients induced by GMD includes instantaneously evaluating said surge amplitudes versus time values. 
     
     
       26. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 24 , further comprising using analog circuits for instantaneously capturing and evaluating parameters of said sensor signals associated with impinging surge transient voltages on said electrical lines of the monitored infrastructure such that rated breakdown voltages of analog circuits components exceed a predetermined protection limit level. 
     
     
       27. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 24 , wherein said determining in real time if said sensor signals associated with said respective electrical line are indicative of the E1, E2, and E3 component of the HEMP while originating from an IEMI or an GMD, respectively, includes instantaneously responding to limit an impact of transient surge energy on the monitored infrastructure so as to form a surge protection system for said electrical lines and said plurality of sensors. 
     
     
       28. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 26 , wherein said instantaneously captured and evaluated parameters of impinging surge transient voltages on said electrical lines are transmitted to a remote display location using said cybersecure optical communication channel and displayed as a local status information using visual and audible indicators. 
     
     
       29. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 28 , wherein:
 said cybersecure optical communication channel uses multiple optical wavelength signals and directional mode control; 
 one of said optical wavelength signals is configured to transmit said local status information to said remote display location using one-way communication mode. 
 
     
     
       30. The method for persistent monitoring, detecting, and mitigating as in  claim 29 , wherein:
 said cybersecure optical communication channel is configured for two-way mode of communication by said remote display location associated with the monitored infrastructure using a secondary optical wavelength signal of the said multiple optical wavelength signals; and 
 said secondary optical wavelength signal used for configuring said cybersecure optical channel for the two-way mode of communication by said remote display location associated with the monitored infrastructure is controlled by the remote display location by blocked and not supported outside the said optical communication channel.